Pat’s see off
ST PATRICK’S RATHNEW 2-7 0-8
ST Pat’s overcame the challenge of arch enemies Rathnew and took a huge step towards automatic quarter-final qualification in this Renault SFC Group C encounter at Joule Park Aughrim on Saturday evening.
Pat’s seemed to have a little bit extra going forward and it was ultimately the goals of Thomas Kelly and midfielder Dean Healy which proved the difference in the end.
It was a proper derby game with neither side willing to give an inch to their opposite number.
Scores were hard to come by and hard won and it was far from a free-flowing game, with many fouls, turnovers and huge hits on both sides.
What it lacked in scores or free flowing-football it made up for in passion, intensity and endeavour from both the red and green and the blue side.
After a slow start, where Pat’s failed to score in the opening 13 minutes and had to wait till 27 minutes for their first point it was the likes of Thomas Kelly at full forward, Paudge McWalter at wing forward and Jem Kavanagh at full back who were pivotal to the victory.
Although Rathnew were well in this game throughout it was notable that they lacked the same pace and running threats as their opponents and the injured Leighton Glynn as well as defensive duo Ross O’Brien and Jamie Snell were missed and would have injected some extra pace if nothing else.
This defeat will no doubt cut deep for the village men but it is still only July and they will be out for vengeance now in what they will hope to be a repeat of the the 2015 campaign where they lost to Pat’s in the early rounds only to gain revenge in the championship final and lift Miley.
The game started at a hundred miles an hour and it was Rathnew who got out of the traps the quickest. Theo Smith was one of the leading reasons for this quick start as he fielded a couple of balls and drove at the Pat’s defence.
It was from one of these Smith catches that the ball worked it’s way to Eddie Doyle and the nimble Rathnew corner forward jinked inside his man to win a free which he dually converted himself to put Rathnew on the board.
Pat’s were getting back well but in the early stages they were a bit ponderous in attack.
One example was going back and across the Rathnew 45 for about 30 seconds before centre forward Stephen Duffy decided he’d seen enough but unfortunately for him and Pat’s his long-range shot drifted to the right.
Rathnew doubled their lead through centre back Nicky Mernagh after he roamed up field but it wasn’t long before Pat’s had their first score and first goal on the board.
After winning their own kick out Pat’s quickly worked the ball up to Dean Healy who found himself with space 40 yards from goal.
A point was on and whether the Pat’s midfielder went for the point only he knows. His outside of boot kick sailed over the head of Rathnew corner back David Jameson and into the grateful